In the European evening, an Antonov An-12BK of Ukrainian cargo operator Meridan crashed near Kavala International Airport in Greece. The aircraft had departed from Serbia’s Nis airport bound for Amman, the capital of Jordan, carrying cargo that had been declared hazardous.
Initial reports indicate that emergency crews attempted to approach the stricken aircraft, but secondary explosions confirmed that the aircraft was carrying explosives.
The same reports indicate that the crew declared an emergency due to an engine fire and requested an emergency landing at Kavala. Images captured by witnesses show fire in the aircraft before it hit the ground.
#BREAKING: UR-CIC, an Antonov An-12TB cargo aircraft of Meridian Ltd from #Ukraine with flight No. #MEM3032 crashed near #Kavala in #Greece on its way from Nis to Amman! Locals filmed the moment of crash. It was burning when it hit the ground! Engine fire had spread to the wing???? pic.twitter.com/LQNOEbz1Yd
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) July 16, 2022
The flight path and flight profile observed on FlightRadar24 are consistent with a sudden emergency and speed control problems:
The aircraft, delivered to Aeroflot in February 1971, began operating for Meridan on January 26 of this year.
